Space Saver Spare Wheel

[leethallee]

Hello everyone, thought I would take the time to register and post some fairly relevant information regarding fitting a space saver spare to your Mini (series/generation 1). I recently bought my wife a 2005 Mini Convertible (Red with white rcing stripes on the bonnet) to say she loves it would be an understatement. Shortly after we bought it I was checking the car and realised it didn't have a spare wheel. We had to replace the front tyres and as it didn't have run flats when we bought it we stuck with non run flats. Well within the first month she got 3 punctures, luckily it is not the Cooper S, so I decided to try and source a space saver. I began by trawling the various forums to get the correct specifications for the wheel, what I came up with is this:

Wheel - 3.5JX15
Offset - 35
PCD - 100
Tyre - 115/70
Centre bore 56.1mm (incorrect)

After searching far & wide I managed to source a second hand (never used) wheel with the above mentioned specifications, unfortunately when I offered up the wheel to the car it didn't fit. When I measured the centre bore it was almost 10mm more in diameter (with the disc rotor fitted)
Some of the posts on this forum have been very useful, especially the one showing how to fit the genuine wheel bracket, in one of the other posts a link takes you to this website; Wheel Fitment.eu, on this website if you search by car make it lists the centre bore as 56.1mm, which seems to be incorrect, so I though it best to let others know so they don't fall into the same trap.

I guess it is my fault for not checking the vehicle, the brakes are standard, so I assume this is the same for all early generation R50 Coopers.

Cheers

[The Nun]

Well that is interesting because not only the site you say you got your information from, but every other wheel manufacturer site Ive looked at just now all list the MINI wheel centre bore as 56.1 or 57mm? But the Countryman is listed as 56.1mm and 72mm? so that sounds wrong, suppose I should go and measure mine and see what it is, or maybe some here that already has a wheel off could check and advise theirs?

[leethallee]

Hello everyone....well this is a little embarassing
I have just fitted the space saver spare to my wifes car, first of all let me apologise....the wheel centre measurement is 56.1mm as listed on a variety of websites. When I removed the rear wheels I noticed a very slight gap between what I thought was part of the disc rotor assembly and the actual disc rotor, on further investigation it turned out to be a plastic collar for the aftermarket wheels fitted by the previous owner. Once I removed these the space saver (with the 56.1mm centre) fitted like a glove. One thing I did have to modify was the 3 armed support, which fits to the underside of the boot, as the centre height of the non-genuine space saver was a little high. This meant when I first tried to pull the wheel up the latching groove on the wheel carrier didn't come up high enough to engage with the spring clip, after sanding some plastic off the support arms it eventually fitted...I still don't think it is a very good design though, my wife would struggle to raise/lower the wheel, I guess that's why we have breakdown cover at least she now has a sprare.
Another word of advice for Aussies...don't bother with the Mini dealers, when I contacted the Perth & Sydney offices, the sales staff didn't even realise you could fit a spare and the spares department wanted over $600 AUD, buy it from Mini mania in the US for $354 AUD including freight.

I also fitted a Westfalia towbar, brilliant don't bother with the Hayman Reese bar that all the Australian towbar specialists will try to sell you. The Westfalia doesn't meet ADR, but I think this is because there isn't anywhere for a safety chain to be attached, I got my neightbour to weld a (hardened steel) chain link to the main tube, I have photo's which I will post soon, we will only use the towbar in emergencies if she has to flee from a bushfire and I'm at work with the ute.

Cheers,

Lee

[mab01uk]

Thanks for the update.

Here is the spacesaver fitting guide for others thinking of getting one:
http://www.mini2.com/forum/wheels-ty...are-wheel.html